davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11

There are duties which an honest news
paper cannot shlrk without forfeiting
popular confidence. The sense OF such
an obligation impels us to utter few
sober words of caution at this critical
time.
1t is an open secret that the BEE is
reaping a golden harvest in midwinter
from the Omaha real estate boom. With
full knowledge that we shall materially
curtail this very profitable patronage by
what we are about to say, we propose to
fearlessly call attention to the breakers
which we see ahead in the very near fu.
ture. With all her bright prospects, the
failure to pass the new charter, which is
now almost certain by reason of the or
ganized opposition, Omaha is about to
experience very marked reaction in her
real estate market and more es-
pecially in real estate values out
side of the present city limits. 1t is no
use to disguise the fact that the outside
real estate boom is already unduly in
iiated by over speculation. The only
thing that holds it up to-day Is the pros
pective extension of the city limits, pro-
pooSo pOulONdluo, anu
public improvements. All these must
be abandoned for two years or more
if the legislature adjourns without
passing the new charter. What the effect
of the impending collapse of the outside
property boom will be on inside real
estate we can only conjecture. The failure
to enlarge the tax area of the city will
certainly retard and prevent some inn
portant enterprises. All public building
projects, except alone school houses. will,
of course, have to be given up, and with
them many important business blocks
that would otherwise have been built this
year.
In view of the fact that thousands of
industrious workingmen and working
women are liable TO be drawn into the
speculative chasm and have their earn
ings of the past and future swallowed in
property that may become uhsalable, we
feel it our sacred duty to say-go slow.
You can better afford to wait until after
the legislature adjourns than be ruined
| by hastY or reckless speculation.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11
Do They Want 1t?

The house has passed the bill abolish
ing the bogus railroad commission. Pub
lie sentiment is responsible for result
which all the work of the corporation
lobby could not obstruct. The commits.
sion was conceived in fraud and born in
inqulty. Its creation was IN open viola.
ton of popular expression through the
ballot box. Two years of its operation
were sufficient to prove its paternity so
clearly that no honest man doubted its
origin or the necessity tor its burial. 1t
remains for the senate to complete the
obsequies.
With the railroad commission abolished
the work is only half done. Another
duty still remains to be performed.
The legislature cannot rest upon the
mere abolition of means for redress
which proved only an obstacle to rene
dial legislation The people of Nebraska
demand law which will curb the
rapacity of the giant corporations which
are fattening from the proceeds of honest
labor by eXorbitant passenger and freight
tolls. 1t has been charged that Rose
water has said that all the legislation
needed could be put on one sheet of
paper. The charge is true. 1t has
been charged at the same time by
the railroad lobby that the assertion
was evidence that the editor of the BEE
is IN league with the railroads. Are
they anxious to discover the fact by a
practical application? The test will be
an easy one. Ii the scoundrels who for
the sake of misrepresenting the editor of
this paper will receive assurance from
their corporate masters that no opposi-
ton will be made to bill of the length
mentioned we shall be glad to make the
attempt withouG any fear of the public
disapproval which they intimate would
follow. A single page would be ample
room. A half u page would do. Twenty
printed lines would suffice.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11
THE FIELD OF INDUSTRY.

American manufacturers are making steady
headway in Australia in crowding out Eng
lish agricultural implements, rails, saws,
lamps, hatchets, sewing machines, etc.
The southern farmers and planters threaten
to have all the laws repealed which permit
the mortgsging of the crops In the field. The
rates of interest are enormous, and the peo-
pie are kept poor.
Looms are idle at various points in the
New England and middle states, so careful
are dry goods manufacturers not to permit an
accumulation of stocks. Many brands of cot
ton goods have advanced.
The jewelers., ,silversmths, engravcrs, CHAIN
makers and watchcase-makers of the United
States will probably form separate district
assembly. The membership throughout the
United States is said to be 6,000
The bituminous coal miners mined last
year rs 100000 short tons of COAL against
G., ,OOO 900 in 1885, Pennsylvania's gain was
100000 tons. The total anthracite and BIZ
luminous output last year was 101, ,0l4, 900
tons.
New railroad enterprises are sprnging up
The Union Pacific will construct 1,S00 miles
of road. The Atchis0n people have bagful
railroad building schemes. 2GOmile
road is to be built through Louisiana to
western Arkansas, ana a road is projected
from Illinois to Kansas City Capital, $12, ,o00,
000) another from Peoria, ILL.,, to Vigo, Ind,
at cost of S5,OOO,OO0, A 170-mile road is to
be built in Missouri, and 2O0mile road in
Nebraska. The number of railroad schemes
is almost endless.
A mill to manufacture railroad track joints
is to be built at Rochester, Pa; a large steel
works at Hoboken; $4,000 cooperative
store will be established at Beaver Falls, Pa;
a steel company will erect 100 houses for
workmen twelve miles from Pittsburg, and
l00-ton blast furnace is to be erected at Belle
tonte.
The total number of workmen on strike in
New York and vicinity is put at 0000 Since
the 1st of January $1,000 men have struck
throughout the country as against H,20O
during similar period last year, Besides
these 16300 workers in factories are idle on
account of coal, or 104, 900 in all. Out of eight
of last years strikes four ended in favor of
the LILO men employed. During January
ninety strikes were started, involving 5000
men: of these. thirty-two have ended, twenty
two were successful; nine failed, involving
$500 men.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11
ReSDecJ the LAW.

1t Is gratifying to find that there are
judicious men connected with the rail
road interests who regard the Interstate
commerce law as an enactment to be re-
spected, and are disposed to aid in giving
it n fair trial, rather than to seek to OBJ
struct its operation. Those who are diff
ferently disposed, and it is not doubted
there are some such, have time before
the law goes into effect to reflect upon
the folly of their attitude, and it will be
well for the interests they represent if
they shall see the futiltY of further op-
position, and the mistake they would
make in attempting to put obstacles in
the way of a full and fair trial of the law.
Nobody expects that the law will prove
to be perfect. The beginning of all such
legislation is necessarily experimental.
Practical experience with this law will
undoubtedly show the necessity for
changes and notifications, which are
quite as likely to be favorable to the rail.
roads as otherwise. But the principle of
the law is fixed and immutable, and having
triumphed after a struggle of years, will
never be surrendered oy the people. The
power to regulate commerce between
the states, devolyed upon the
representatives of the people
in congress by the constitution,
and declared by the highest judicial au-
thority in the nation to exist there alone,
will hereafter be exercised as perman.
ent part of public policy This being
assured it is obviously the part of wisdom
for the railroad corporations not only to
cheeriully acquiesce IN the requirements
of the law, but to give every assistance
which they may properly render TO the
authorities appointed under 1t in order
that it may be freely, fully and fairly
executed, In this way will faults and
defects, if they exist be most surely and
promptly discovered and the required
changes and remedies suggested. That
it is the interest of the railroads to pur.
sue this course ought to be plain to every
official connected with them.
Such is the view taken by the Central
Traffic association which held meeting
few days ago at the Office of President
Newell of the Lake Shore road, IN Cleve-
land, Ohio. 1t was determined to con-
tinue the association, and among the
resolutions adopted was one declaring
that the interstate commerce law should
be accepted and interpreted with just
regard for the great mutual rail
way and public interests involved
generally, in conformity with
the definitions of the law explained in
the senate debate thereon. 1t was also
resolved that the association will CO.
operate with the commissioners under
the law in securing, rs far as possible,
the benefits of the sta tute, and in the
faithful observance of all Its provisions.
This is in the right spirit, and it is the
policy which the entire railroad interests
of the country should pursue.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11

The strong sentiment in favor of the
necessity of state inspection of illumi-
mating oils has resulted in the introduc.
ton of two bills in the senate whose OBJ
ject is to throw greater safeguards around
the sale and use of petroleum and its pro-
ducts. The earliest OF these is senate file
IL, introduced by Senator Colby. In its
general provisions and aims it Is almost
identical with that introduced later by
Senator Conger. Each provides for state
Inspector with power to appoint depu-
ties who shall test and brand Illuminating
oils and condemn such as is found def
cient Both fix penalties for violation of
the law, Senate file II, however, when
compared with the best laws on other
statute books is lacking in a number of
impoi tant details which are more fully
covered in Senator Conger's measure.
The fees as fixed by Mr.. Colby's bill
would make the Office of inspector of
oils the most lucrative in the state. A
tax of 20 cents for the inspection of
single barrel of oil, which is the fee
which it fixes, is at least double what it
should be. In the end the consumer
pays the inspectors fees. They should
therefore be as reasonable as is consist
| ent with affording n fair salary to that of
| iicial and his deputies The test required
by Mr.. Colby's bill is needlessly high. 1t
is placed at 1l5o flash tes t,
| while the most required in our largest
| states is 1862. A flash test of 1869 means
a burning test of 1909, and oil of
| that degree is safe beyond all
question There is no reason why
the public should be forced to purchase
| fancy oils when safe Illuminating fluids
can be procured Mt n lower cost. Another
deficiency in Senate File Il is its failure
to prescribe the testing apparatus to be
used. OIL men are agreed upon what
| this is, and name the Foster cup auto
matte testing machine as the only
reliable tester. This Is the apparatus
used in Ohio, Illinois, and dozen
other states, and which is in
universal use among heavy exporters IN
New York. 1t is reliable and automatic,
and leaves no room for mistake and col
| luslon. Other points in Mr.. Colby's bill
which are open to criticism are its failure
to provide some authority to whom an
appeal can be taken IN cases of dispute,
and its indefinite provisions as to the
sale of oils denominated as "doticient
tor Illuminating purposes" While the
measure is commendabe effort to reach
a desired end, it is crude and fails to
| cover the ground
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11
The Difference in Methods.

When private enterprises, municipali-
ties or individuals feel that proposed
legislation will unjustly affect their inter
ests they appear before the proper legis
lative committee and advance arguments
against the measure. Facts and figures
are addueed Papers and statements are
brought forward. Such citizens assume
that legislatures and legislative commit.
tees are composed of honest men. They
proceed on the theory that their members
are reasoning and reasonable, open to
argument and unwilling to commit an
injustice.
When public corporation believes
itself assalled, it orders out its special
Car and a few hundred blank passes. 1t
collects for hire mob of strikers and
heelers, and invadcs the state capital
with heavy lobby composed of dead
beats and bilks, Steering clear of com
mlttee rooms because such following
could have no influence upon reputa BILE
men, it concentrates all its energies to
the task of bribing and browbeating in
dividual members TO defeat the measure
when 1t comes before the houses. The
blll which might have been amended an
committee, is killed in open session.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11

The total militia of the country, avail
able tor military service, is stated in a
letter of the secretary of war to congress
to be 7,655,592. The organized militia
numbers $4,000, the increase last year
having been 10000, which the officials of
the war department regard as satisfac-
tory 1t is understood to be the inten-
ton of the war department to look more
carefully in future after the interests OF
the militia, which must be the depend
ence of the government in case of war,
and the fact that congress proposes to
double the appropriation for arms and
equipments, making the amount 100000,
is evidence of more favorable disposi-
ton in this matter.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11
----------------------
A Recital and n Society.

The piano recital given by Miss Bella
Robinson, of Council Bluffs, under the
auspices of the Ladies Musical Society,
is deserving of something more than
passing mention. Miss Robinson's per-
formance was an agreeable revelation to
many present who had not before had
the pleasure of listening to display of
her powers. In q programme which
covered the musical field from John
Sebastian Bach to Chopin she showed
uncommon versatility in execution and
exhibited quite remarkable results of the
combination of natural talent and pains
taking stndy. In portions of her render
ing of the programme, Miss Robin
son displayed n mastery of
technical difficulties and an appreciation
of the spirit of the composers which left
little room for criticism, even by compar-
ison. But the concert was noticeable not
less for the fine audience which it at
tracted than for the brilliancy of the per-
formance. Any evidence of an increas.
ing interest in musical study and musical
appreciation in our city is worthy of at.
tention and comment. Culture, like con-
tidence, is a plant of slow growth in new
communities. 1t does not seek virgin
soil. When transplanted itrequires care
full nurture and steady forcing. The
original impetus to any development
of art must come from the few
and not from the many, aud the conse-
quent education of the public taste Is in
variably the result of the conscientious
and unseliish labor of small coterie of
enthusiasts. No one who has followed
for years the current of musical events
in Omaha needs to be told that this has
been the case in our city. Little by little
through recitals in private houses,
through the pecuniary sacrifices of mu-
steal organizations working for the love
of music and striving to batter down
public indifference more than public
prejudice, the work has been gong on.
None of these educational forces has
done better and more faithful work
than the Ladies' Musical Society, now
in its fourth season with strong
and growing membership, and which
owes much of its success to the faithful
and disinterested labors of Miss Elizabeth
Poppleton and Miss Rustlh. The society
has done a genuine work in stimulating
musical study and the enjoyment OF
music. Its influence has spread outside
the walls of the halls where Its unpre
tcntious concerts have been given, and
has furnished a valuable impetus to mus
nnIo o,,1f ni,,, g.,
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11

Council BLUFFS, under the influence
of the real estate boom, is Just now eX-
hibltng n great deal of enterprise.
Broadway has been ordered paved clear
to the river and an ordinance for the
protection of the river front has been
passed by the council. The probability is
that steps will be taken in the near
future towards the construction of the
long.talked-of new bridge between
Council Bluffs and Omaha. All this
looks like business, and we predict that
within five years the bottoms on the east
side of the river will all be raised above
high water mark and covered with ware.
houses. depots, factories and residences.
There is no longer any jealousy between
the twin.sister cities, whose limits will
soon only be divided by the river, but
united by another bridge and a street
railway line.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11
That Charter Compromise.

The compromise between the citizens
committee and the Douglas county dele
CATION throws the confederated editorial
bushwhackers and contractors INTO
spasms of rage and contortiops of agony.
Why? Because it bids fair to assure the
passage of a new charter for Omaha.
The only aim of these charlatans and
frauds has been to defeat the whole char
ter for personal ends and to precipitate
this entire community into municipal
chaos to advance their own private
interests. Backed by the railroads,
who We're determined to kill the
charter if the sweeping taxation of
railroad property was insisted upon,
these adventurers thought they read their
title clear to what they termed a great
victory over the tax payers and progress
sive elements of this city. Now that mu-
tual concessions have assured an even
chance Of the passage of the charter,
practically as it came from the hands of
the committee Of fifteen, these hyenas are
shrieking fraud" and ''treachery" with
ear splitting vigor, but to empty benches.
Omaha has never yet secured charter
which was not the result of compromise.
If the new charter passes, it will be no
exception to the rule. The Douglas dele
CATION were brought face to face with
the alternative of carrying their
point in the tax clause and defeating the
charter, or of yielding to compromise
with fair chance of its passage. They
We're besought by the leading merchants
and capitalists of Omaha not to imperil
every interest both of labor and capital
by throwing this city INTO the disorder
and confusion of operating under the
charter framed for Lincoln. They were
assured that the railroads would agree to
municipal taxation on a large amount of
property now untaxed, and IN return for
the concession would withdraw their op-
position to the passage OF the charter. 1t
was n fair issue of no charter or a
modified charter The delegation, much
to our regret at the necessity, but with
the wisdom that takes three quarters of a
loaf in preference to none, decided to a
compromise which while not all that
could be desired Is a great advance on
the tax question over what we have had
heretofore. So far as this paper is con-
cerned, its views of the equities of equal
taxation have not changed WHAT should
be unfortunately does not always coincide
with what can be. Partial taxation of
railway property is better than total ex.
empticn. Municipal government under
new ana enlarged charter is better than
the confusion and depression which
would inevitably result from the defeat
| of the bill now pending. For these rea,
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11
-HE OMAHA DAILY BEE: FRIDAY. FEBRUARY H. 1887.

Underhand means are rcsorted to for the
purpose of accomplishing what manly
opposition might more easily have
attained. The corporations proceed on
the theory that every man has his price.
Sometimes they find themselves mistaken.
Railroad methods are chiefly response
bic for the antagonism to railroads. tits
creature of their own making fostesed
by themselves and nurtured by the disre-
putable methods used to curb its lnflu-
ence, Manly men respect an honest
fight They are not won over by the dirty
work of the lobby
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11

THERE is breach in the republican
ranks in New York which may prove to
be serious. Senator Miller has not taken
his defeat by Hiscock with the compla-
cercy which man who takes his chances
in politics is expected to do. On the con-
trary he is reported to feel very hostile
to the senator-elect, whom he charges
with having made a corrupt combination
to secure his election. This also involves
Mr.. Morton, who surrendered his vote to
Hiscock, and is an imputation against all
but the original supporters of the latter.
Miller declined an invitation to the din
ner given in Washington last week in
honor of Hiscock, on the ground that the
latter was not fit to associate with. 1t is
said also that the senator is not less
vicious toward Blaine. Miller has con-
siderable following and his attitude is
quite naturally cause of concern to the
republicans of the state, and especially to
the friends Of Mr.. Blaine. A repetition
of the stalwart-halt-breed contention
would be very dangerous matter for the
party next year, and something of this
kind seems 10 be threatened OF course
there is very wide difference between
Miller and Conkling, and the
former probably will not be able
TO make and maintain the breach
created by the latter, yet he can
do mischief. There appears to be an
Earnest effort making to placate the re-
Calcitrant senator, but its success is ques-
tionable.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11

Ir is noted as a significant straw show
Ing the direction of the European war
wind, that all the great manufacturers of
powder and explosives in the east are
extraordinarily busy, and they are ship.
ping large quantities of their product to
France or Germany. The Dupont pow
der mills, near Wilmington, Della, have
meyer in their history been more actively
employed than at present. The men are
worked night and day in some depart
ments OF the great establishment, which
is turning out by the tons black powder
such as is used in war. The powder
makers are told that the orders now on
hand cannot be filled fast enough. The
mills OF the Repauno chemical works, at
Thompson's Point, N. j., at which the
most destructive explosives in the world
are manufactured, are also reported to be
uncommonly busy. These mills are the
most famous in the world, and have
nearly always furnished large proper.
tion of powder to European nations on
the eve OF war, fact that gives sgni.
ficance their present exceptional
activity just before the Franco Prus-
sian war the mills were run on extra
time, as this is the case now, and this
was taken then, as now, to be pretty
sure harbinger of war. The manufac-
turers are reticent regarding the cause OF
the unusual activity, or give evasiye and
unsatisfactory explanations, which to.
gether with the fact that they are known
to have been endeayoring for some time
past to haye large consignments sent to
France by transatlantic steamers, war.
rants the belief that they are working on
European orders.
Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-11

THE statements of the savings banks of
some of the larger eastern cities bear
gratifying evidence to the prosperity and
thrift of the people, and show that not
withstanding labor troubles and the COM
mon complaint that the wage earners are
unable to more than subsist, there are
hundreds of thousands of working peo-
pie Yho have their bank account. AS a
single example, the savings banks of
New York city report that at the close of
1886 they owed to $50, ,443 depositors the
sum of $270, ,569, 800, and that the increase
IN their deposits during the year was
14,623,21S. Assuming the population of
the city to be 100000, it thus appears
that 4s persons out of every 100 have
money on deposit in the savings banks.